Police: Woman's action thwarts home burglary

But authorities don't recommend going to such extremes.

But authorities don't recommend going to such extremes.

January 22, 2009|By STAN MADDUX Tribune Correspondent

MICHIGAN CITY -- A Michigan City area woman discovered her neighbor's home getting burglarized, then she and several others went outside and held one of the suspects until police arrived. Police hailed their daring actions yet cautioned against going to such extremes. "We're not criticizing them," said LaPorte County Police Chief of Detectives John Boyd. "I admire what they did. We're just glad nobody got hurt." Devan Kloss, 18, has been charged with Class B felony burglary, while Thurman Beavers Jr., 38, is charged with aiding, inducing or causing burglary, also a Class B felony. Police on Wednesday were still working to identify a third suspect. About noon Saturday, police said, a woman saw a strange vehicle outside her neighbor's home in the 7200 block of West 400 North. She then spotted a female, later identified as Kloss, carrying a television from the home, police said. Her husband and their son, along with several friends, ran out and confronted Beavers, who was seated inside a car, according to reports. Beavers tried getting away, police said, but waited for police without further struggle. Neighbors used no weapons of any kind to restrain Beavers. "After they grabbed and held him, he offered no resistance," Boyd said. According to authorities, witnesses identified Kloss, who was found in a vehicle several hours later. Boyd said he is hopeful of arresting the third suspect. "We have a number of very good leads," Boyd said. In addition to the TV, police said they recovered two sets of keys. "We know they were gathering other things inside the home as well," Boyd said. Beavers was on house arrest at the time for drunken driving and had removed his ankle bracelet before the burglary, police said.